The Crazy Villainess in This Area Is Me

“You won’t be able to lift a finger against me!” Roseni declared defiantly, tears welling up in her eyes.

The coachman then showed his palms, indicating he meant no harm. “Oh, it’s a misunderstanding, Merilly.”

“What…?”

“Here, eat this. There’s a letter inside; it might be good for you to read it.”

“This is…?”

He extended a pink box to the child, which looked out of place with the furry coachman. Roseni cocked her head at the pretty box that didn’t match the coachman’s appearance.

“Your mother left it for you. She said to stay here for a while.”

“…In a warehouse like this?”

“Yes. I heard it’s a cupcake.”

Hearing that, the child slightly opened the box. Inside were a letter and a beautifully shaped cupcake.

“…Is this really a letter left by my mother?”

Roseni rubbed her eyes irritably. She couldn’t remember clearly if she had suddenly fallen asleep, and she felt groggy as if she hadn’t fully woken up yet.

“Yes, read it.”

Still holding onto Merilly’s clothes tightly, Roseni tore open the pink envelope and peeked inside the letter. It was filled with words begging for Merilly’s forgiveness.

“…It’s indeed my mother’s handwriting.”

Magorit’s writing had a distinctive slope to certain words more than others. There was no doubt it was her mother’s letter.

Was there really a remorseful intent? The child’s eyes wavered as if fluttering in the wind. It would be nice if this were sincere. Then, she wouldn’t have to despise her mother anymore.

“But why bring us to such a place?”

“

, I didn’t hear the details. Just that there was a big problem at the mansion, and you couldn’t go back. I’m just a coachman hired for today’s work, and this is your family’s warehouse.” He casually lied.

Roseni’s gaze turned to the coachman. Looking closely, he was the coachman who had brought them to the capital.

“It’s really you. The coachman I saw earlier.”

“Now, do you believe me? Look at this blanket. It’s made of fabric your mother gave me, which I couldn’t afford on a coachman’s salary.”

The child touched the blanket beneath her. As he said, it was a luxurious fabric that commoners couldn’t afford.

Roseni pressed her lips tightly and scooped a bit of the cream with her finger. The letter ended with a note saying there was a matter the adults needed to discuss, so she should eat the cupcake and wait.

“Go ahead, try it.”

“…Why are the boxes different colors?”

“They’re the same cupcakes.”

Doubtful, the coachman opened the mint-colored box to show her. Just as he said, the same cupcakes were inside. But it seemed strange to give Merilly the cupcake from the pink box specifically.

Was this another attempt to give a cake filled with sand under the guise of an apology? If she checked whether there was sand in the cake, she could determine if her mother’s letter was sincere or not. Despite being a smart six-year-old, she was still a mere child and couldn’t conceive of the brutal possibility that the cake might contain poison instead of sand.

Unaware of the danger, Roseni slightly licked the cream on her fingertip. The soft cream sweetly caressed her taste buds. Thankfully, she didn’t feel any grit. Thinking she did well by claiming to be Merilly and seeing color return to her face was the moment when…

“

…”

Roseni clutched her mouth. An indescribable pain surged as if her throat was on fire.

“It hurts, it hurts…!”

“

…?”

At the child’s scream, Merilly’s eyes snapped open.

“Sorry, Merilly. I bear you no ill will.”

“W-what is this…!”

Startled, Merilly stood up and alternated her gaze between the strange man and the fallen Roseni.

“I was just following orders.”

“W-what are you saying…?”

“Give the pink box to Merilly.”

At those words, Merilly’s heart sank.

“They said the pink box contained poison.”

“What…?”

“Stay here for a while. Your mother will come to pick you up soon.”

Leaving only those words, the coachman exited the warehouse and locked the door. With a dazed expression, Merilly looked at Roseni, who was convulsing in pain.

“Roseni! What on earth…!”

The man clearly looked at Roseni while calling her name.  Merilly’s mind raced.

“Merilly…”

“Did you say my name and eat the poison in my stead…?”

There was only one answer. Roseni had ingested the poison meant for her. Tears began to well up in Merilly’s eyes.

“Mother went as far as to use poison…”

“Roseni…!”

Merilly grasped Roseni’s hand tightly. But her complexion was already turning deathly pale.

“Why did you… Why did you take my place…!”

“Sorry, Big Sis…”

“Roseni!”

“I’m sorry… our mother… is a villain…”

Tears streamed down her face. Despite the excruciating pain, she felt no regret. In fact, she felt a sense of relief from the guilt she had been carrying, and strangely, she wasn’t feeling bad.

“I’m glad I ate it instead.”

“What are you talking about, Roseni. No, please come back to your senses…!”

“Merilly.”

You are different from me and my mother.

“I love you.”

Your mother is Lobelia.

Live peacefully now.

Words she couldn’t say in time swirled in her mouth. At the same time, the hand Roseni was holding fell limply.

“Roseni…?”

No matter how much she called,

“Roseni…!

! No…!”

Roseni’s eyes did not open again.

Merilly screamed and cried out loud. It was inconceivable. Her mind couldn’t grasp what had happened. Her gaze fell on the letter Roseni had been reading. It was filled with Magorit’s apologies and pleas for forgiveness.

“She even used Roseni… to kill me…?”

Her hand holding the letter trembled violently.

“Why…!”

She could have endured all grievances. If she just kept quiet, they were a happy family. It was natural for a young lady of the Hamilton family to endure a little bitterness.

“Did she hate me enough to want to kill me…?”

But now, she couldn’t bear it any longer. Her anger towards Magorit finally erupted. A dark blue flame burst from the small child’s body, similar to Lobelia’s.

“

!”

Amidst that, a small golden light inclined towards Roseni like a budding sprout. The light soon reached Roseni. Unaware that Roseni’s complexion was improving, Merilly continued to unleash her power.

“I can’t forgive… I can’t forgive…!”

She was unaware of what was happening to her. But one thing was clear: she had to vent all the rage she was feeling.

“What in the world,

!”

Her power broke through the warehouse door and struck the coachman.

“Mo-monster…!”

Pushed back by the force, he stumbled and slowly backed away. An immense sense of pressure emanated from Merilly, unbelievable for a mere seven-year-old.

“Was it really mother? Did mother tell you to poison me…?”

“Yes, yes! I just did as I was told. Please spare me!” The coachman cried and knelt before Merilly, begging for his life.

“Roseni is… She collapsed…” Unable to say she died, the child sobbed and continued. “Why should I spare you?”

For a moment, a murderous intent flashed in her emerald eyes. A shadowy dark power stretched long behind the child.

“

! No…!”

Just as Merilly’s power was about to strike the coachman,

“Merilly…!”

A familiar voice came from behind her. Slowly, the little head turned around.

“Merilly…”

Lobelia, who had been gripping Magorit’s hair roughly, let her go. Then, she immediately rushed to Merilly and embraced her tightly. Tears cascaded from her blinking eyes.

Once she was held, the dark power transformed into a golden divine power. And finally, that divine power bestowed upon Merilly the memories of the beginning.

The smile that looked at her affectionately,

The desperately reaching hands and face.

“Mom…?”

Her crying voice was clearly directed to Lobelia.